Curtain-adjuster



E. M. MENZL. CURTAIN ADJUSTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, I920.

Patented Feb, 15, 1921.

l/Vl/EIVTOR ATTORNEYS at aerate.

ELIZETH H. MENZL, 0F STEIN'WAY, LONG ISKIAN D CITY, NEW YORK.

- cuar-anarusrna.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. is, rear.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH M. MsNzL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Steinway, Long Island City, berof Queens, in thecounty of Queens ough an State of New -Iork, have invented a prevent theblowing of the curtain through the window and the soiling thereof, tohold the curtain away from the window sashes in order to permitunobstructed cleansing of the window, and other purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide ana'djuster fixed normallyto the window frame so as to swing either inward or outward and be heldautomatically in substantially a horizontal plane forholding a curtain,or its equivalent, spaced from the plane of the window on either side.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists inthe arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described andclaimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact detailsof construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose ofillustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, in whlch like reference characters designate thesame parts in the several; =views, and in which- I Figure 1 is aperspective view indicating the manner of use bf my improvement.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of that portion of my improvement attachedto the right side of the window and projected inward, the crossbar-being in section.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig; 2 but showing the arm in normal idleuprlght position parallel to the-window frame.

cross r.

Fig. .4 is a detail perspective view ofthe outer end of the. tubular armsection.

F 5 is a similar vlew of oneend of the Fig. 6 is a vertical sectionaldetail on the line 66 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional detail on the line 77 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8, is a somewhat similar view but showing the manner ofmanipulating the inner and outer arm sections to effect the adjustmentthereof.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view indicating a preferred form of crossbar.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings I show my improvement ascom- PIISlIlg two telescopic arms 10, a crossbar 11 and pivotconnections 12 to secure the end of each of the arms to the side orvertical members 13 of the window frame.

Each of the arms comprises inner and outer telescopic members 14 and 15,the inner member being preferably in the nature of a fiat solid bar ofany suitable material and having at what I may term the lower end apivot hole 16 for a pivot pin 17, and having on opposite sides of thehole 16 shoulders 18 and 19 for cooperation with a. fixed stop 20. Thepivot pin 17 and stop 20 may be of the same nature, such as screws ornails, and both serve to hold the pivot member 12 as a whole against theWindow frame 13. The pivot member comprises two disks 21 and 22 havingregistering holes for the respective pins 17 and 20. The disks 21 and 22are thus securely fixed to the window frame and may have any suitabledegree of closeness or tightness toward each other for the purpose ofgripping the lower end of the arm section 14, this being deter mined bythe distance to which the pins are driven into the frame. The shoulders18 and 19' are shown as lying at one side of or above the transversediameter of the joint end of the arm 14, and hence by locatmg the stop20 substantially in the vertical length terminating in a squareupperend.

At any desired points intermediate of its ends it is provided withheaded studs 23 in the nature of a round headed screw fitted rigidly insaid arm section, .but with the head spaced from the am The outer armsection 15 is tubular and is provided on one side with a channel 15whlch is substantially coextensive with the section 15 and along andwithin which the head of the stud 23 is adapted to glide during theextension orcontraction of the arm. Near the open lower end of themember 15 its channeled portion 15 is provided with a keyhole slot 21,the larger end of which is directed toward the open end of the arm andis adapted to permit the free passage therethrough of the head of eitherstud 23 while the smaller end of the slot 24 is adapted to embrace theshank portion of either stud to determine the degree of adjustment ofthe arm. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the length of the arm 10 isintermediate of its two extremes, the solid portion of the member 15being in cooperation with the lower A stud 23. If it is desired toshorten the arm the operator has simply to release the stud 23 from thesmaller end of the slot and by pressing laterally on the fiat side ofthe member 15the slotted portion of the member will be passed over thehead of the stud so as to permit free endwise movement of the member 15toward the pivot 17. Likewise if it is desired to adjust the arm at alonger length the member 15 will be moved outward to bring the outerstud into registry with the key-hole slot where it may be locked in amanner similar to the illustration of the locking in connection with thelower stud. The outer member 15 of the arm is made somewhat larger intransverse dimension than the solid member 14 so as to provide for theadjustments above referred to.

The outer or upper end of each arm section 15 is preferablysubstantially solid and flat and provided with a bearing 25 ofsubstantially cylindrical form but having an open side 26 narrower thanthe diameter of the bearing. The crossbar 11 is provided at each endwith a head 27 and a relatively narrow neck 28. This neck is fiat in onedimotion and cylindrical in the other direction, the fiat dimensioncorresponding to the opening 26 of the bearing sothat when the bar isturned in the proper direction the neck portions thereof will slipfreely through the side openings 26 and then by turning the crossbarsllghtly around its axis the neck willinterlock in the bearings 25 so asnot to drag therefrom even though the arms be swung outward through the.

window.

The manner of use-of this device may be briefly set forth as follows: Inview, of the foregoingspecific description of the mechanism as shown inFig. 1 the crossbar 11 is supported upon the bearing ends 25 of the armsand in a substantially horizontal position. Obviously the pivotconnections 12 may be located as h' 1 window frame as ind lvidualdesires or conh or as low along the ditions may dictate so as to holdthe curtain spaced from any desired portion of the window. When thecurtain is not desired to be held in this manner from the window thedevice is disconnected by rotating the rod 11 to disconnect it from thebearings 25 and then the arms are swung upward around their pivots andthe,open sides of the bearing holes 25 are passed over nails or screws29 fixed at any desired elevation to the window frames above the pivots17 These nails or screws 29 serve therefore as keepers for the arms inidle position. The rod may be laid on the window sill or on the floor,or otherwise adj acentto the window for subsequent use. Whether the armsbe contracted to their shortest length prior to adjustment into idleposition Wlll depend upon the location of the keepers 29 or theoperators individual preference. The crossbar 11 may be solid if thelength thereof is capable of being determined suitably, but in order toadapt the device to windows or the like of dilferent widths I prefer tomake the crossbar ofa telescopic-nature composed of two parts 11* and11*, but having same end characteristics that are fully set forth abovein connection with the interlocking engagement with the outer armmembers.

' I claim:

1. In a curtain adjuster, the combination of a pair of arms, means topermanently pivot the lower ends of the arms to a window frame and acrossbar supported upon the upper ends of the arms, each arm comprisinginner and outer telescopic members, the inner member having one or 'moreheaded studs fixed thereto, the head of each being spaced from the innermemberand the outer member being provided with a general extensionhaving a keyhole slot cooperating with either headed stud to determinethe adjusted length thereof, substantially'as 'set forth.

2. In a curtain adjuster, a pair of arms ivotally secured at one end toavwindow rame, a-crossbar detachably mounted in the free ends of saidarms, said arms having circular openings in their free ends and havingnarrow slots communicating with said openings, a flattened neck portionadjacent each end of the crossbar adapted to be passed edgewise throughsaid slots and v turned to removably lock the bar and arms together, andmeans integral with the pivoted ends of the arms for supporting the armsin horizontal position.

3. A device of the character described in claim 2 including studssecured to the window frame and cotiperating with said slots, andopenings to lock the arms in upright position against the window framewhen thecrossbar is detached. v

' ELIZABETH M. MENZL.

